Mechanism for supporting a submerged pouring tube on a bottom-pour vessel and method of replacing tubes

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for supporting a submerged pouring tube on a bottompour vessel which has a slidable gate closure, and a method of replacing such tubes. The pouring tube is removably suspended from a holder. The holder is removable and replaceable independently of the gate without disturbing other parts. The replacement holder can be inserted into the mechanism from underneath, where it is temporarily supported in horizontal alignment with the old holder. The same mechanism used to move the gates then is operated to move the replacement holder into the position originally occupied by the old holder.

United States Patent 91 Shapland Apr. 17, 1973 MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTINGA SUBMERGED POURING TUBE ON A BOTTOM-POUR VESSEL AND METHOD OF REPLACINGTUBES James T. Shapland, Wilkins Township, Allegheny County, Pa.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: -J an.24, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 220,232

[52] US. Cl. ..222/5l2, 164/281, 164/337, 222/561 [51 Int. Cl. ..B22d37/00 [58] Field of Search ..l64/281, 337; 222/561, DIG. 7, DIG. 1, 512

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 ,459,346 8/1969 Tinnes..222/ DIG. 7

3/1970 Shapland ..222/D1G. 7 H1960 Momm ..222/D1G. 7

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. ScherbelAtt0mey-Wa1ter P. Wood ABSTRACT 20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MECHANISMFOR SUPPORTING A SUBMERGED POURING TUBE ON A BOTTOM-POUR VESSEL ANDMETHOD OF REPLACING TUBES This invention relates to an improvedmechanism for supporting a submerged pouring tube on a bottom-pourvessel which has a slidable gate closure, and to an improved method ofreplacing tubes on such vessels.

Bottom-pour metal-teeming vessels often are equipped with slidable gateclosures for controlling discharge of liquid metal therefrom. Suchclosures are widely used on tundishes from which metal is teemed intocontinuous-casting molds, but also may be used on ladies, degassingvessels and the like. For some purposes, such as casting aluminum-killedsteel, it is desirable to confine the stream of metal against contactwith air as it flows from the teeming vessel into a receiving vesseltherebelow. One way of confining the stream is to pass it through arefractory pouring tube fixed to the teeming vessel and having its lowerend submerged in liquid metal in the receiving vessel. Variousarrangements are known for using a pouring tube in combination with aslidable gate. Reference can be made to my earlier US. Pat. No.3,501,068 for an exemplary showing.

Slidable gate-pouring tube combinations used heretofore have adisadvantage that the pouring tube cannot readily be removed andreplaced. The gate is pushed or pulled away from the vessel outlet eachtime the outlet is opened or closed. Although one tube can be usedthrough several gate changes, eventually the tube becomes eroded orotherwise damaged and must be removed and replaced.

An object of the present invention is to provide, in a slidablegate-pouring tube assembly, an improved tubesupporting mechanism whichenables me to remove and replace a pouring tube and/or its holder easilyand without disturbing other parts.

A further object is to provide a tube-supporting mechanism which enablesme to remove and replace the tube and/or holder independently of thegate.

A further object is to providea mechanism which supports a pouring tubeon spring pressed members independently of a slidable gate above thetube, whereby the tube is readily removed and replaced.

A further object is to provide an improved method of replacing a pouringtube and/or holder in a simple operation independently of the gate.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a bottom-pourvessel which is equipped with a slidable gate-pouring tube combinationand a tube-supporting mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of myinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section on line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line IV-IV of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is afragmentary cross section showing a modification; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section similar to FIG. 1, but showing anothermodification.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 show a portion of a conventional bottom-pour vesselwhich includes a shell 10 and a refractory lining 12. The bottom wall ofthe vessel has an outlet 13. The vessel is equipped with a slidable gateclosure which may be any one of several known forms.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on line III-III of FIG. 7

The closure illustrated comprises a mounting plate 14 fixed to thebottom wall of the vessel, a frame 15 removably attached to the mountingplate with support pins 16, and a stationary refractory top plate 17removably resting in a recess in the upper face of the frame. The frameand parts carried thereby form an assembly installed on the mountingplate or removable therefrom as a unit. A gate 20 is slidably supportedunder the top plate on two series of rocker arms 21, the inboard ends ofwhich contact the gate along its opposite side edges. In this embodimentthe gate may be either a nozzle gate, as illustrated, to permit metal todischarge through the outlet 13, or a blank to prevent such discharge.Whenever the outlet is to be opened or closed, one type of gate isreplaced by the other. As shown in FIG. 2, each series of rocker arms ispivoted to frame 15 on a respective pivot pin 22. Spring housings 23 aremounted within the frame along opposite sides of the gate, and eachcontains a respective compression spring 24 and a plunger 25 above theoutboard end of a different rocker arm. Retainer plugs 26 are threadedlyengaged with the upper ends of the spring housings. Springs 24 beardownwardly against the outboard ends of the rocker arms, while theinboard ends press the gate 20 finnly against the top plate 17.

For operating and changing gates, I have illustrated a pull-throughmechanism which is the invention of Earl P. Shapland and one form ofwhich is shown and claimed in his application Ser. No. 74,785, filedSept. 23, 1970, now abandoned. As shown in FIG. 1, this mechanismcomprises a double-acting fluid-pressure cylinder 29 mounted in frame 15and containing a reciprocable piston and piston rod 30. The end of thepiston rod carries a ram block 31. Pull rods 32 are attached to oppositesides of the ram block and extend through bores 33 in the springhousings 23 (FIGS. 2 and 4). A puller block 34 is attached to the endsof rods 32 remote from the ram block (FIG. I Frame 15 carries a fixedrest 35 at the end of the series of rocker arms 21 nearer the pullerblock 34. The puller block has a ledge 36, the upper face of which issubstantially coplanar with the upper gate-engaging faces of rocker arms21 and rest 35. When the piston rod 30 is fully extended as shown inFIG. 1, a new gate (shown in phantom) can be inserted from above intothe space between the old gate 20 and the puller block 34, where it issupported temporarily on the rest 35 and ledge 36. Cylinder 29 then maybe operated to retract its piston rod 30 and pull the new gate into theposition originally occupied by the old, which is displacedsimultaneously and drops from the vessel.

A tube holder, which includes a rectangular refractory block 37 and ametal frame 38, is supported beneath gate 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,the metal frame has circumferentially spaced arcuate flanges 39 spacedbelow the refractory block. The tube holder carries a downwardlyextending refractory pouring tube 40. The upper end of the tube hascircumferentially spaced arcuate lugs 41 which are supported on flanges39. To remove the tube from the holder, it is only necessary to rotateit a quarter-turn to free the lugs from the flanges, and it can beinstalled by a similar motion.

In accordance with my invention and as shown in FIG. 4, the supportingmechanism for the tube holder comprises a pair of yieldable grids 44which extend beyond the length of the tube holder 37,38 at each end andhave lips 45 at their inboard edges underlying opposite side edges ofthe tube holder. Each grid has an upstanding integral rounded button 46located centrally of its length near the outboard edge. The buttons arereceived in corresponding sockets or grooves in the underface of frameto serve as pivots for the grids. Frame 15 has respective integralspring housings 47 overlying each end of each grid. Each housing 47contains a respective vertically movable plunger 48 and a compressionspring 49 urging the plunger upwardly. The lower end of each plungercarries a removable downwardly extending bolt 50 which is connected to arespective block 51 fixed to the grid. Thus the springs 49 act throughthe plungers 48 and bolts 50 to urge the grids 44L upwardly about thebuttons 46 and press the refractory block 37 of the tube holder firmlyagainst the gate 20. Frame 15 has integral depending stops 52 which theends of the respective grids abut to steady the grids and preventaccidental displacement.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the mounting plate 14 has air ducts 53 abovethe spring housings 23 and 47, the center lines of which lie in the samevertical planes. The mounting plate supports downwardly directed nozzles54 above the spring housings 23 and 47. The retainer plug 26 and plunger48 have bores 55 and 56 respectively affording communication between thenozzles and the interior of the spring housings. Air is blown into thespring housings via the ducts, nozzles and bores to prevent the parts,including the springs 24 and 49, from overheating.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower edge of the puller block 34 carries anangle iron 59 to which is pivoted a dog 60. The dog can swing freely inthe upward direction, but the flange of the angle iron prevents it fromswinging downwardly from its normal position shown. When the dog is inits normal position, its upper face is substantially coplanar with theholder-engaging upper faces of lips 45. When the piston rod 30 is fullyextended as shown in FIG. I, I can insert a replacement pouring tubeholder 37,38 from underneath into the space between the angle iron 59and the grids 44. The dog 60 swings out of the way to permit the holderto be inserted in this fashion and thereafter temporarily supports oneedge of the holder. The grids have cooperating ramps 63 for temporarilysupporting the opposite edge of the holder. Thus the replacement holderis horizontally aligned with the old holder 37,38. The pouring tube 40may be attached to the holder at the time the holder is inserted, or itmay be removed and attached later.

Next I operate cylinder 29 to retract the piston rod 30 and pull thereplacement holder, with or without the tube attached, into the positionoriginally occupied by the old. The old holder is displacedsimultaneously and drops from the vessel in a manner similar to thegate. Preferably the exterior of the pouring tube has a circumferentialnotch 62 near its upper end to create a plane of weakness. Consequentlythe old tube can break off if it is suspended into a receiver when Ichange tubes.

The mechanism preferably includes stops 63 which the left edge of thetube holder abuts to prevent accidental displacement of the tube holderwhen gates are changed. As shown in FIG. 1, the stops 63 projectinwardly from grids 44 at the ends nearer the cylinder 29, the left asviewed in FIG. 1. They are fixed to rods 64 which extend through bores65 in the grids (FIGS. 2 and 4). The other ends of rods 64 have handles66 for rotating the rods and thus moving the stops outwardly from thepath of the tube holder for changing tube holders. Stops 63 fit withinnotches 67 formed in the upper faces of ramps 61 and inboard faces ofgrids 44. To standardize the grids and avoid need for making them ofopposite hand, I show a notch 67 also at the entry end, the right asviewed in FIG. I. The second notch also enables the same form of grid tobe used in constructions which have stops located at both ends of thetube holder, as in the modification shown in FIG. 6 hereinafterdescribed.

FIG. 5 shows a modification in which I have eliminated the dog on thepull block and instead use rail sections 68 pivoted to the frame 15a atopposite sides. I insert the replacement tube holder 37,38 fromunderneath as before. The rail sections 67 swing outwardly to permit thetube holder to pass, and thereafter swing inwardly to provide temporarysupport for the holder.

FIG. 6 shows a modification in which I apply my holder-supportingmechanism to a reversible gate 70. The gate has a nozzle 71 and an area72 which serves as a closure for the outlet 13b of the vessel. I haveillustrated a porous plug 73 in the closure area for admitting gas tothe vessel, but this feature is optional. The modified constructionincludes a puller block 74 attached to pull rods 32b similar to the pullrods of the embodiment already described. The puller block 74 has avertical slot 76 in which I mount a vertically movable bar 77. The rightor entry ends of grids 44b carry respective rails 78 which extend towardthe puller block and are substantially coplanar with the holderengagingfaces of lips 45b of the grids.

I can insert a replacement tube holder 79 from underneath, as before,into the space between the bar 77 and the grids 44b. Bar 77 movesupwardly to permit the holder to be inserted in this fashion andthereafter drop back behind the edge of the holder. Rails 78 providetemporary support for the replacement holder in horizontal alignmentwith the old holder. Next I can move the puller block 74 to the left, asbefore, to pull the replacement holder into the position originallyoccupied by the old holder.

Since the gate is reversible, it is pushed to the right to move it froma position in which its closure area 72 is aligned with the vesseloutlet to a position in which its nozzle 71 is thus aligned. To preventaccidental displacement of the holder 79 when the gate is pushed to theright, preferably the mechanism includes a second pair of pivoted stops63b which the right edge of the holder abuts. The stop at the left, aswell as other parts of the mechanism, are similar to the embodimentalready described.

From the foregoing description it is seen that my invention affords asupporting mechanism and method which enable a pouring tube to beremoved and replaced in one simple operation. The operator normally isstationed on the same side of the vessel as the pull block. Hence he caninsert a new gate or a new tube holder in the mechanism with littleinconvenience. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, either the gateor the tube holder can be changed without disturbing the other, or bothcan be changed at once. In all embodiments the gate can be moved to openor close the vessel outlet without disturbing the tube, and the tubeholder can be changed while the gate remains on the assembly. In theevent the pouring tube is not needed, I remove bolts 50 from plungers 48and thus take off the entire tube-supporting mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly for use on a vessel whichhas an outlet in its bottom wall, which assembly comprises:

a frame adapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of the vessel;

supporting and operating mechanisms for a slidable gate carried by saidframe; and

a holder for mounting a pouring tube beneath the gate; the combinationtherewith of an improved supporting mechanism for'said holdercomprising:

yieldable support means carried by said frame independently of saidgate-supporting mechanism and having holder-engaging faces underlyingopposite side edges of said holder; and

spring means acting against said yieldable means for pressing saidholder against the gate;

.said holder being removable from the assembly and replaceable whilesaid gate remains thereon.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition meanslocated below said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanarwith said holderengaging faces for providing temporary support for areplacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder,said replacement holder being insertable from underneath into itstemporarily supported position and movable therefrom into the positionoriginally occupied by said first-named holder.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition meanslocated below said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanarwith said holderengaging faces for providing temporary support for areplacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder,and means carried by said gateoperating mechanism and engageable withsaid replacement holder for moving said replacement holder from itstemporarily supported position into the position originally occupied bysaid first-named holder and simultaneously displacing said first-namedholder from said yieldable support means.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providingtemporary support for said replacement holder is carried in part by saidyieldable support means, and includes cooperating additional meansspaced from said yieldable support means, said replacement holder beinginsertable from underneath into its temporarily supported positionindependently of the gate.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperatingadditional meansis mounted on said gateoperating mechanism.

6. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperatingadditional means includes a dog pivoted to said gate-operating mechanismfor movement upwardly from its normal position but prevented frommovement downwardly.

7. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said gate-operatingmechanism is of the pull-through type and includes a puller blockadapted to contact a new gate and pull it into the position originallyoccupied by said first-named gate, and in which said cooperatingadditional means includes a flanged member fixed to said block anddepending therebelow, and a dog pivoted to said flanged member formovement upwardly from its normal position but prevented by the flangefrom swinging downwardly therefrom.

8. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperatingadditional means includes rail sections pivoted to said frame atopposite sides thereof.

9. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providingtemporary support for said replacement holder includes rails carried bysaid yieldable support means.

10. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providingtemporary support for said replace ment holder includes rails carried bysaid yieldable support means, and in which said gate operating mechanismis of the pull-through type and includes a puller block and verticallymovable means carried by said puller block engageable with saidreplacement holder while supported on said rails.

1 l. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldable supportmeans includes a pair of grids pivotally related to said frame andextending the length of said holder at opposite sides thereof.

12. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldable supportmeans includes a pair of grids having lips at their inboard edgesengaging said holder, and rounded buttons at their outboard edgesengaging said frame to act as pivots, and in which said spring meansincludes compression springs acting upwardly on said grids intermediatesaid lips and said buttons.

13. A combination as defined in claim 12 in which said frame has springhousings receiving said springs, and including vertically movableplungers in said housings and means connecting said plungers to saidgrids, said springs acting upwardly against said plungers.

14. A combination as defined in claim 13 in which said gate-supportingmechanism also includes compression springs, the springs at each side ofsaid holder for the gate-supporting mechanism and the holder-supportingmechanism lying in common vertical planes, whereby common air ducts cansupply cooling air thereto.

15. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the supportingmechanism for said holder comprises in addition a stop abutting the edgeof said holder, and means accessible from the opposite edge of saidholder for moving the stop out of the path of said holder when areplacement holder is to be installed.

16. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition asubmerged pouring tube carried by said holder and depending therefrom,and being removable from said holder when said holder is beneath saidgate.

17. The combination, with a vessel which has an outlet in its bottomwall, of a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly mounted on the undersideof the bottom wall of the vessel, said assembly being constructed asdefined in claim 1.

18. A method of replacing a holder for a submerged pouring tube used ona bottom-pour vessel which has a 19. A method as defined in claim 18 inwhich the gate-operating mechanism provides temporary support for oneedge of the replacement holder.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 in which the holder-supportingmechanism provides temporary support for the opposite edge of thereplacement holder.

1. In a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly for use on a vessel whichhas an outlet in its bottom wall, which assembly comprises: a frameadapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of the vessel; supporting andoperating mechanisms for a slidable gate carried by said frame; and aholder for mounting a pouring tube beneath the gate; the combinationtherewith of an improved supporting mechanism for said holdercomprising: yieldable support means carried by said frame independentlyof said gate-supporting mechanism and having holder-engaging facesunderlying opposite side edges of said holder; and spring means actingagainst said yieldable means for pressing said holder against the gate;said holder being removable from the assembly and replaceable while saidgate remains thereon.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprisingin addition means located below said gate-supporting mechanism andsubstantially coplanar with said holder-engaging faces for providingtemporary support for a replacement holder in horizontal alignment withsaid first-named holder, said replacement holder being insertable fromunderneath into its temporarily supported position and movable therefrominto the position originally occupied by said first-named holder.
 3. Acombination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition means locatedbelow said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanar withsaid holder-engaging faces for providing temporary support for areplacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder,and means carried by said gate-operating mechanism and engageable withsaid replacement holder for moving said replacement holder from itstemporarily supported position into the position originally occupied bysaid first-named holder and simultaneously displacing said first-namedholder from said yieldable support means.
 4. A combination as defined inclaim 3 in which the means providing temporary support for saidreplacement holder is carried in part by said yieldable support means,and includes cooperating additional means spaced from said yieldablesupport means, said replacement holder being insertable from underneathinto its temporarily supported position independently of the gate.
 5. Acombination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additionalmeans is mounted on said gate-operating mechanism.
 6. A combination asdefined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additional means includes adog pivoted to said gate-operating mechanism for movement upwardly fromits normal position but prevented from movement downwardly.
 7. Acombination as defined in claim 4 in which said gate-operating mechanismis of the pull-through type and includes a puller block adapted tocontact a new gate and pull it into the position originally occupied bysaid first-named gate, and in which said cooperating additional meansincludes a flanged member fixed to said block and depending therebelow,and a dog pivoted to said flanged member for movement upwardly from itsnormal position but prevented by the flange from swinging downwardlytherefrom.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which saidcooperating additional means includes rail sections pivoted to saidframe at opposite sides thereof.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 3in which the means providing temporary support for said replacementholder includes rails carried by said yieldable support means.
 10. Acombination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providing temporarysupport for said replacement holder includes rails carried by saidyieldable support means, and in which said gate operating mechanism isof the pull-through type and includes a puller block and verticallymovable means carried by said puller block engageable with saidreplacement holder while supported on said rails.
 11. A combination asdefined in claim 1 in which said yieldable support means includes a pairof grids pivotally related to said frame and extending the length ofsaid holder at opposite sides thereof.
 12. A combination as defined inclaim 1 in which said yieldable support means includes a pair of gridshaving lips at their inboard edges engaging said holder, and roundedbuttons at their outboard edges engaging said frame to act as pivots,and in which said spring means includes compression springs actingupwardly on said grids intermediate said lips and said buttons.
 13. Acombination as defined in claim 12 in which said frame has springhousings receiving said springs, and including vertically movableplungers in said housings and means connecting said plungers to saidgrids, said springs acting upwardly against said plungers.
 14. Acombination as defined in claim 13 in which said gate-supportingmechanism also includes compression springs, the springs at each side ofsaid holder for the gate-supporting mechanism and the holder-supportingmechanism lying in common vertical plAnes, whereby common air ducts cansupply cooling air thereto.
 15. A combination as defined in claim 1 inwhich the supporting mechanism for said holder comprises in addition astop abutting the edge of said holder, and means accessible from theopposite edge of said holder for moving the stop out of the path of saidholder when a replacement holder is to be installed.
 16. A combinationas defined in claim 1 comprising in addition a submerged pouring tubecarried by said holder and depending therefrom, and being removable fromsaid holder when said holder is beneath said gate.
 17. The combination,with a vessel which has an outlet in its bottom wall, of a slidablegate-pouring tube assembly mounted on the underside of the bottom wallof the vessel, said assembly being constructed as defined in claim 1.18. A method of replacing a holder for a submerged pouring tube used ona bottom-pour vessel which has a slidable gate closure, said methodcomprising inserting a replacement holder from beneath into a positionbetween the gate-operating mechanism and the old holder in horizontalalignment with the old holder, temporarily supporting the replacementholder in said position, and operating the gate-operating mechanism tomove the replacement holder into the position originally occupied by theold holder.
 19. A method as defined in claim 18 in which thegate-operating mechanism provides temporary support for one edge of thereplacement holder.
 20. A method as defined in claim 19 in which theholder-supporting mechanism provides temporary support for the oppositeedge of the replacement holder.